Armband Face Mask

ABSTRACT

An armband worn on a user&#39;s forearm that has an attached envelope, which opens to reveal a face mask. The folded panels of the envelope are spring based so that when a user lifts up on a tab, the envelope springs open to reveal an attached face mask.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is increasing anxiety about the spread of viral particles from droplets from a cough or sneeze. During strict quarantine measures world-wide, individuals who cough or sneeze in public may be stigmatized. As individuals transition back into daily life, including back into the workplace, there will need to be new devices and structures in place to keep people safe and to maintain comfort during personal interactions. This device will serve a positive function in helping society transition back to work.

Many individuals will want to wear a mask to cover their nose and mouth when in public or in the workplace, however masks are uncomfortable, and they impede communication. This device allows the user to cough or sneeze into the device on the forearm rather than into their clothing, hands or the environment. It may provide reassurance for a user that they are taking measures to contain their droplet spray, will allow users to carry a mask on their person at all times, and may provide comfort for others in close proximity that there will be less risk of infectious particles in the environment. Offices will need to develop strategies such as this device to keep workers safe and comfortable at work.

Using a mask correctly is difficult. Putting on and taking off a mask incorrectly can easily cause the user to become contaminated with viral particles. Further, storing a mask when it is not in use can be problematic. Many individuals pull their mask down around their neck, hang it on their ear or put it into a pocket or bag when not using it. There are currently no effective and hygienic solutions to help people put on and take off a mask safely, and at the same time, allow for safe and convenient storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide an armband face mask combination that allows the user to wear an armband and attached envelope on his or her forearm and to be able to instantly unfold a face mask contained within the envelope so that it can be used as a cough and sneeze guard.

Another object of the invention is to provide an armband face mask where the face mask can be easily removed to be used as a standard mouth and nose filtering device. The device will allow the user to put on and take off the face mask without touching the outside of the mask to avoid potential contamination with infectious particles.

There are two major components to the instant embodiment. The first is an armband strap assembly comprising a flexible strap that is wrapped circumferentially around the user's forearm. The second is an envelope-like face mask retaining assembly that attaches to the armband and opens via a spring hinge mechanism. A face mask fits into the mask retaining assembly envelope attached to the armband and is secured in place with hook-and-loop type fastening panels or other similar adhesive panels. When a tab on the panel distal to the user's arm is lifted, the envelope panels spring open and the face mask is revealed. The user can then cough or sneeze into the mask. The face mask is detachable and can be worn on the users face like a traditional surgical facial mask. The unfolded panels and the attached mask prevent droplet spray during use on the armband. There are elastic bands on each side of the mask to allow the user to hold the mask onto the face by securing it around the ears. There is a thin strip of metal that allows the user to mold the top edge of the mask to the shape of the user's nose to prevent droplet particles from escaping into the user's eyes or into the environment. The mask can be either disposable or reusable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the instant invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the instant embodiments may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the instant embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the distal side of the embodiment in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the proximal side of the embodiment in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment in the open position with a face mask in place.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the proximal side of the embodiment in the open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the distal panel open and side panels folded.

FIG. 6 a perspective view of the side panels partially opened.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the side panels fully opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a top perspective view of the embodiment 100. There are two components to this device. The first is an armband strap 10 wrapped circumferentially around the user's forearm. The second is an envelope comprised of a proximal panel 28, side panels 22 and 24 and a distal panel 2 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The envelope is made from a sheet of nylon 6/6 approximately twenty-five thousandths of an inch thick. The fold lines 4, 5, 30 as shown in FIG. 7 naturally want to cause the envelope panels to spring open based on the natural properties of the nylon.

FIG. 2 shows the proximal side of the embodiment 100 while the armband 10 is slidably held in place by rigid panel 16 as it passes through slots 12 and 14. Plastic molded strips 8 and 18, each include magnets 8A and 18A as shown in FIG. 3 which magnets hold the distal panel 2 and the proximal panel 28 together.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment 100 in the open position with a detachable facial mask 20 held in place by hook-and-loop type fastener panels 32, 34, 36, 38 as shown in FIG. 7. When a tab 6 is lifted, the magnets 8A, 18A are released and spring hinges 4, 5, 30 shown in FIG. 7 open revealing mask 20. The user can then cough or sneeze into the mask 20, or the user can remove mask 20, use the elastic bands 40, 42 and put it on his or her face by hooking the bands 40, 42 onto the user's ears. An additional mask can be stored under mask 20 giving the user the option of using either mask 20 or the second mask stored between the underside of mask 20 and the underside of distal panel 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the underside of the embodiment 100 in the open position. Face mask 20 can be seen cradled by panels 2, 24, 22, 28. The resulting mask configuration is ideal for a user to sneeze into. Obviously, an alternate embodiment can simply use a piece of cloth or paper-like material instead of an actual face mask.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment with the side panels 22, 24 in the folded down position. These panels will automatically and instantly fold out as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 due to the natural spring action of hinge members 4, 5, 30.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment with the side panels 22, 24 in partially unfolded position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment in the open position showing hook-and-loop type fastening panels 32, 34, 46, 38 in place that removably retains a reusable cloth face mask or a disposable paper-based face mask. In the preferred embodiment, a low-profile hook-and-loop type fastener called “Speedwrap®” manufactured by Speedtech International Inc. provides the ideal holding capacity for both cloth and paper-based materials. Its low profile also helps to reduce the overall thickness of the armband holding envelope. 

We claim:
 1. A face mask armband comprising: an armband strap assembly; a face mask retaining assembly capable of being in a closed position or in an open position; a plurality of molded plastic strips; a plurality of magnets; a plurality of face mask fastening panels; a face mask; the armband strap assembly comprising: a flexible strap with two ends; wherein the two ends of the flexible strap overlappingly attach to each other forming a circumference; further comprising a base plate, the base plate comprising a plurality of slots; wherein the flexible strap is threaded through the plurality of slots, slidably retaining the armband strap assembly to a user's arm; the face mask retaining assembly made of a sheet of nylon and die cut and folded to form an envelope having a proximal panel, at least two side panels, and a distal panel, wherein the proximal panel is closer to the user's arm, wherein the folding action creates proximal panel to distal panel hinges and side panels to proximal panel hinges; the die cut and folded sheet of nylon creates envelope of an essentially rectangular shape comprising two long edges and two short edges, wherein the long edges comprise the proximal panel to distal panel hinges and the short edges comprise of the side panels to proximal panel hinges; the proximal panel of the face retaining mask assembly being fixedly attached to the base plate of the armband strap assembly; each strip of the plurality of molded plastic strips comprising at least one recess to receive at least one of the plurality of magnets, wherein at least one of the plastic strips being attached to the long edge of the proximal panel opposite of the proximal panel to distal panel hinge and wherein at least one of the plastic strips being attached to the long edge of the proximal panel opposite of the proximal panel to distal panel hinge, wherein the magnets become stacked on top of each other when the proximal panel and the distal panel are in the closed position; wherein at least one of the plastic strips being attached to the long edge of the proximal panel opposite of the proximal panel to distal panel hinge comprises an outwardly extending tab; wherein the proximal panel, and the side panels comprise a plurality of fastening panels attached to each panel surface facing the each other of when the proximal and the distal panel are in the closed position, wherein the face mask comprises a plurality of fastening panels, wherein the plurality of fastening panels removably retain the face mask to the proximal panel and to the side panels; and the folding edges of each the folding envelope panel acting as spring hinges so that when the panels are folded in on each other and held in place by the magnets, a user can lift up on the outwardly extending tab to release the magnets causing the folded panels to spring outward revealing the face mask removably retained to the side panels and the proximal panel of the face mask retaining assembly.
 2. A face mask armband as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of face mask fastening panels are made of low-profile hook-and-loop type fasteners.
 3. A face mask armband as claimed in claim 1 wherein the face mask can be a reusable cloth mask or a disposable paper-based mask.
 4. A face mask armband as claimed in claim 1 wherein the face mask retaining assembly comprises a first face mask and a second face mask, wherein the second face mask is stored between the proximal panel and the first face mask, wherein the second mask is not attached to the to the distal panel and is not attached to the side panels and is not opened by the unfolding of the distal panel and of the side panels.
 5. A face mask armband as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinges are comprised of a plurality of pin hinges and torsion springs so that when the panels are folded in on each other and held in place by the magnets, a user can lift up on the outwardly extending tab to release the magnets causing the folded panels to spring outward and revealing the face mask removably retained to the side panels and the proximal panel of the face mask retaining assembly. 